Polishing-machine.



Patented luly 29, |9112. M. H. BALLARD. u

PULISHING MACHINE.. {Applicztiovn leulV Jan. 13,'1902.)

(Nn .maal 1 C14 Made wwwa, u c

l UNITED STATES `'PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON l-I. BALLARD, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE W.

. EMERSON dr CO., OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

POLISHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming partiof Letters Patent No. 705,550, dated July 29, 1902. Application filed January 13, 1902. Serial No. 89,485. (No model.)

ing or polishing the bottoms of boots and shoes which have been treated with what is commonly called an electric iinish.

The invention has forits object t0 improve and simplify the construction of the machine in many particulars, especially adapting it to its preferred use. 4

`The invention consists, essentially, in a revoluble spindle or shaft borne byan-arm and having connected with `it by suitable clutch mechanism a fiexibleshaft to the extremity of which a polishing tool or pad is attached. y

The clutch mechanism employed is constructed and arranged to slip in case the polishing tool or pad is applied with too great pressure to the Work, and means are provided for throwing the members of said clutch mechanism into and out of engagement.

The iiexible shaft, which is revolved when the members of the clutch mechanism are in engagement, has at its extremity a tubular spindle which is inclosed Within and has suit able bearings in a shell or case, and the polishing tool or pad is attached to this tube, and novel means are provided for detachabl y holding thepolishing-disk in position.

The flexible shaft is inclosed Within a flexible tube, so that the polishing tool or pad may be manipulated or moved about at will.

Figure lshows in side `elevation a polishing-machine embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the stand and parts supportedby it, taken on the dotted `line 2 2,' Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged ver- 5o tical section of the inclosing case for the clutch mechanism, which latter is shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the polishing tool or pad and support therefor. Fig. 5 represents details of the means employed for holding the polishing-disk in position on its support. Fig. 6 is a detail to be referred to.

a represents the upright stand or column of the machine, which is made hollow.

b represents an arm which is secured to the upper end offa'fcylindrical bar b', disposed vertically within said hollovv stand. The bar b' is adapted to be turned on its axis and also raised and lowered, so 'tliatth'e arm may be set in different radial positions and also adj usted to different elevations. The b ar b' is held xed in any position that it may be set by a clutchband or ring b2, which will be of any usual or suitable construction.`

A shaft c (see dotted lines, Fig. l) passes down through the center of the bar b and formed with a splineway, and said shaft projects beyond the lower end of said bar b' for' a considerable distance, and its lower projecting end portion passes through a central hole in the hub of a belt-pulley c2, around which a belt os passes, which also passes around the belt-pulleys c4 c, and thence to a suitabledriving belt-pulley. .The central hole in the hub of the belt-pulley o2 is-formed With a spline Whichenters` the splineway in the shaft c. The belt-pulley ciis contained Within the hollow stand, and the belt-pulleys o4 c5 are supported outside of said stand. The belt-pulley c2 is held ina predetermined position by a plate o7, located above it and secured to the stand, and a bracket c, located below it and also secured to the stand. As the belt-pulley c2 is revolved the shaft o will be revolved by it, and as said shaft is connected with said belt-pulley by a spline it will be seen that said shaft will be revolved even though the bar b' is adjusted to different elen vations. The belt-pulley d is secured to the upper` end of the shaft c, around which a belt d passes.'` At the extremity of the arm b a yokeeis formed or provided, which aifords bearings for a vertical spindle e', upon which the'belt-pulley c2 is secured, and said beltpulley c2 occupies a position in a horizontal Vss .plane with the belt-,pulley d, and the belt CZ' which engages a corresponding crown ratchettoothed clutch member e4, mounted upon a Vertical stem e5. The clutch member e4 is normally held pressed into engagement with the clutch member e3 by a spring e6 surrounding the stem. The clutch member e4 has an annular flange e7, projecting over or above an eccentric-pin es, and said eccentric-pin projects inwardly from a pin e9, to which a thumb-piece @10 is attached. By turning said pin e9 the eccentric-pine8 will be moved in a circular path about'the axis of said pin e9 and will engage said flange e7 and lift the clutch member e4 free from the clutch member e3. A tubular shell f is secured to the yoke e, which incloses the clutch mechanism thus described, and provides a bearing at its upper en'd for the stem e5, and also provides a bearing for the pin e. A flexible shaft g is connected to the stem e5, which will be made of any suitable length and adapted to be rotated by the vertical spindle e' when the members ot' the clutch are in engagement. The outer end of said flexible shaft g has connected to it a pin g', which is screwed into one end of atubularor other spindle g2, thereby connecting them together. i

The polishing tool or pfad comprises a circular base g3, made of any number of component parts, having thereon a polishingdisk g4, and said base g3 is rigidly secured to the spindle g. The polishing-disk g4 is detachably connected to the tool or pad, and as a simple way of thus connecting the disk to the tool or pad I have provided a slotless headed screw h, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) the screwthreaded shank 71,' of which is screwed into the outer end of the tubular spindle g. The screw h is formed or provided with a socket h2, at one side of the bottom of which a recess 713 is formed, and a pin c', having a suitable projection z', is adapted to enter said socket, and when bottoming therein its projection t" will enter the recess h3 in the screw. By turning said pin the screw will be turned. As a simple manner of forming the recess hs in the screw I prefer to cut away the shank of the screw externally', thereby forming a recess of suitable depth to open into the socket h2.

In practice I find that it is practically impossible to employ any ordinary form of slotheaded screw 5 hence the provision of a novel form to meet the requirements of the case.

The tubular or other spindle g2 has its bearings in a shell or case g5, which is made of suitable size and length to serve as a handpiece for the polishing tool or pad.

The flexible shaft g is inclosed within a flexible tubej, one end of which is connected to the shell f and the other end to the shell g5.

In operation the arm b will be set in whaty ever position -it may be desired, and the operator grasping the handpiece g'will properly manipulate the polishing-tool, which is rapidly rotated by the vertical spindle e.

In operating the polishing-tool it is desired to provide against too heavy pressure upon the work, and in this instance ratchet-toothed clutch mechanism is caused to revolve in the direction of the arrow thereon, so that whenever the tool is held with too great pressure the clutch member e3 will slip by the clutch member e4. This isimportant when operating upon patent-leather tips to obviate burning, and it is also important for many other purposes. Hence in amachine of this character a slip-clutch mechanism becomes necessary.

When not using the polishing tool or pad,the pin e9 will be turned and the clutch disengaged and the polishing tool or pad placed in a suitable rest provided for it on the arm b, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. l.

The vertical spindle e is made long enough to project down through a yoke, as shown in Fig. 1, and may have secured to its lower end a burnishing-tool n of any suitable description.

I claiml. In a polishing-machine, a vertical spindle, a support therefor, and means for revolving it, combined with a flexible shaft, clutch mechanism interposed between said spindle and shaft, and polishing tool or pad connected to the extlemity of said flexible shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a polishing-machine, a vertical spindle, a support therefor, and means for revolving it, combined with a flexible shaft, a slipclutch mechanism interposedbetween said spindle and shaft composed of two crown ratchet-toothed members, one of which is connected to the spindle and. the other. to the shaft, a spring for holding said members in engagement and means for disengaging them, and a polishing tool or pad connected to the extremity of said flexible shaft, substantially as described.

3. In a polishing-machine, a vertical spindle, a support therefor and means for revolving it, combined with a flexible shaft, a clutch mechanism interposed between said spindle and shaft comprising two crown ratchettoothed members, one of which has an annular flange, an eccentric-pin engaging said flange and means for turning it, and a polishing tool or pad connected to the extremity of said flexible shaft, substantially as described.

4. In a polishing-machine, a vertical spindle, a support therefor, and means for revolving it, combined with a flexible shaft, a flexible tube inclosing it, a tubular case attached to the end of said flexible inclosing tube, a spindle contained in said tubular case, which is connected to said flexible shaft, said spindle projecting from said case, and a polishing tool or pad mounted on the projecting end of said spindle, substantially as describedq ICO 5. In a polishing-machine, a Vertical spindie bearing a belt-pulley, an arm bearing said spindle, a vertically adjustable and rotatable bar to which said arm is secured, a stand or support for said bar, a shaft passing centrally through said bar having a splineway, a beltpnlley to which said shaft is splined, a beltpulley secured to the upper end of said shaft which occupies a position in a horizontal plane with the belt-pulley on said vertical spindle, a flexible shaft connected to said Ver tical spindle, and a polishing tool or pad connected to the extremity of said flexible shaft, substantially as described.

6. A polishing tool or -pad consisting of a MILTON H. BALLARD.

Witnesses: i

JEANNIE K. BETTON, ELMINA R; TozZER. 

